Stamp-affixing machine



Dec. 4, 1928. 1,693,965

J. D. SMITH ET AL STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE File d Feb. v, 927 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 THEIR ATTORNEYS Dec. 4

J. D. SMITH ET AL STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 7, 1927 TH IR ATTORNEYS Dec. 4, 1928.

J. D. SMITH ET AL STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE Filed Feb. v, '1927 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 9&4

INVENTORS 77/674 ATTORNEYS STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE Filed Feb. 7, 1927 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 ,EEYE 125%? M Y /& E va/Q M: i

74 ATTORNEYS Dec. 4, 1928.

J. D. SMITH ET AL STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE Filed Feb. 7, 1927 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 gFJ SQZ M THE/1P ATTORNEYS Dec. 4, 1928.

1,693,965 J. D. SMITH ET AL STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE Filed Feb. '7, 1927 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR ,4. aw

TYE/KATTORN EY5 Dec. 4, 1928.

JQD. SMITH ET AL STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE Filed Feb. '7, 1927 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 38 J3 INVENTORS (3.44, B

fi ATTORNEYS Dec. 4, 1928.

1,693,965 J. D. SMITH ET AL STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE Filed Feb. 7, 1927 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 INV NTORS 7x 4 ATTORNEYS Dec. 4, 1928. 1,693,965

J. D. SMITH ET AL STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE Filed Feb. '7, 1927 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOBS I L V 1 BY 6 r 0...:

z7 /;ATT0RNEY$ 7 packages are re-shaped in passing through Patented Dec. 4, 19 28.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN DAVID SMITH AND CHARLES RAYMOND PHILLIPS, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

STAMIP-AFFIXING MAGHINE.

Application filed February 7, 1927. Serial No. 166,279.

This invention relates to improvements inwhich the articles to be st-am ed are delivered so that the'attendant or the packing machine may, without material addition to his or her duties, send the packages through the stamp-applying machine which completes the package ready for the carton.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character which is of small size and which will occupy little space on the factory floor and hence is suitable for installation in factories in which the packing machines are already installed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of this kind in which the machine and the folds laid flat preparatory to receiving the stamp, whereby packages'as they are delivered from the packing machine may be handled directly by the stamping machine, notwithstanding slight differences in dimensions of the successive packages and the imperfections in the folding which cannot be avoided in rapidly:

operated machinery.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of this kind in which the number of moving parts and the amplitude of their movements, as well as the paths of movement of the stamp and the package are reduced to a minimum, whereby a rapid operation of the machine measured in the number of articles stamped per unit of time,

' obtained without undue rapidity of movement of the parts of the machine.

More particularly, the machine of the present application constitutes an improvement on the sealing machine disclosed in the application of John D. Smith and Charles R. Phillips, Serial No. 670,958, filed 0ctober 26, 1923, now Patent No. 1,616,671, granted February 8, 1927.

In the accompanying drawings, we have illustrated an improved embodiment of our stamp-applying machine, and in said drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine showin the arrangement of the conveyor for delivering the packages to be stamped to the machine;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation on a larger scale looking toward the left of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine with portions of the feed conveyor and the delivery conveyor broken away;

Fig. 4 is a detail section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing the intermittent driving gear for the feed conveyor;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation on the same scale as Fig. 2 showing the side of the machine opposite to that shown in Fig. 1;

I Fig. 6 is a vertical section on line 6-6 of Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional View on line 7-7 of Figs. 3 and 8 looking in the direction of the arrows, which is in the opposite direction from Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view on line 8-8 of Figs. 7 and 2;

- Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale of the suction stamp picker for the labels, on line 99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an elevation of the suction picker viewed from the left of Fig. 9;

Figs-11 and 12 are diagrammatic views showing the stamp-picker in different positions of operation,- and Figs. 13 to 20 inclusive illustrate modifications of the suction picker. Referring to the drawmgs, particularly to Fig. 1, 1 indicates the base of the machine preferably of the pedestal type, of a height such that the horizontal plane of movement of the package is convenient for the operator, say, about 3 feet from the floor. Alongside of the base 1 a frame 2 is pro- 9 vided for supporting the feed chain 3, by

which the packages to be stamped ar e advanced into the machine. The packages to be stamped, indicated at 4-, are placed in the feed chamber by hand from the delivery trough of the packing machine. The packages may be placed'in the chain automatically, but as it is necessary for the packages to be inspected before their final sealing. it is expedient to have the packages handled by the operator at this point so that any damaged or imperfectly wrapped package may be sent back before the stamp is applied to it.

The feed chain is operated intermittently in timed relation with the other parts of the machine and delivers its packages into the feed trough 5 (see Fig. 3) the walls of which are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the width of the packages so tiat the packages can belmoved through the feed trgugh without undue friction againstthe s1 es. 4

The machine shown inthe drawings is especially adapted for applying revenue stamps to packages of cigarettes of the kind in which the cigarettes, usually 20 in numher, are wrapped in a wrap er of foil and inserted in a cup of paper w ich is open at the top, leaving the folded ends of the foil wrapper exposed. The folds of the wrapper are usually unsealed and the revenue stamp is placed across the folds with its ends stuck to the 'cup'whereby the revenue stamp Wlll be broken by opening the end folds of the package, thus preventing the use of uncancelled revenue stamps.

Packages of this sort when they leave the cupping machine are pressed to a substantially uniform sha e and dimensions, but in handling the pac ages they are a t to become very much out of shape so t at they will clog in the machine unless reshaped before reaching the working parts of the machine. For this pur ose we provide the feed trough of the mac ine with a movable side portion 6 which is operated at intervals during the working of the machine to press the packa es which are assing between the part 6 in t e opposite we 1 to the exact thickness required so that the ackage will pass properly through the working parts of the machine. portion of the guide trough immediately adjacent the stamp-applying devices need be narrow enough to actua ly engage the package in its movement through the trough, thereby materiall lessening the resistance to the movement 0 the packages through the feed trough.

At each operation of the feed chain the end package of the row of packages in the feed trou h is advanced over a vertically moving p un er 7 (see Figs. 6 and 7 by means of w ich the plunger is elevated through the stamp-aflixing devices. In its lowermost position the up or face of the plun er lies in a plane wit the bottom of the eed trough, and immediately upon cessation of movement of the feed chain the plunger is elevated by its operating cam 8 to lift. the package against. the reviously gummed stamp held across the path of movement of theackage by the picker 9, and into the brus trough 10. The brushes of this trough serve to smooth the ends of the stamp down against the cup and also to hold the package in the position to which it is moved by the plunger when the plunger is lowered to receive the succeeding package.

By thls arrangement only the head an The cam'8 which operates the plunger also.

' the roller 13 into position over the package supported on the to of the plunger. -The operating rollers o the plunger and carriage are arranged to be diametrically opposite to the cam groove 11 whereby the carriage will be reciprocated and will remain at rest across the path of movement of the plunger while the plunger is elevated and retracted.

The picker head is shown in detail in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 and preferably comprises a carriage portion 13' channeled to embrace a square guide rail 14' extending at right angles to the feed trough 5 and held in place thereon by a bridge piece 15 to which the operating lever 16 for the label carriage is connected by an operating link containing is provided with a wear plate 18 and the carriage is supported on the wear plate by means of set screws 19 which serve to minimize the friction and provide a ready adjustment of the carriage.

The picker head 20 is detachably conapart a distance slightly less than the length o the stamp, the two arms being bored to provide air passages connectin withthe main air (passage 22 in the body 0 the picker to which the suction hose 23 is connected. The ends of the arms 21 are provided with openings whichoverlie the ends of the stamp whenthe suction head is in the position shown in Fig. 8 above the stamp magazine.

The air is exhausted from the picker head by means of a vertical suction pump 24 whose cylinder is fixedly supportedby the machine frame adjacent thepathofmovement of the picker head. The piston of the suction pump is operated by a crank 25 on the end of the cam shaft 26, the crank being positioned with respect to the operating cam for the suction carriage so that the suction stroke will commence after the picker head is positioned over the label ma azine and will continue until after the punger has elevated the package through the picker head whereby the stamp will be held taut during the application of the stamp to the package, thereby making the use of mechanical folders for smoothing the stamp against the package unnecessary.

In its assage from the label magazine to the lu l) head passes over the moistening roller 13 which moistens the under side of the stamp so that it will be stuck to the package. The moistening roller receives its water from a main roller 30 rotating in the water tank 31 supported on the machine frame between the label magazine and the feedtrough. In order that the moistening roller will supply suflicient water to the stamp and not tend to pull the stamp away from the picker during the movement of the picker across the roller, the roller is rotated in synchronism with the movement of the stamp. This movement is accomplished by means of a ratchet wheel 32 supported on the end of the moistening roll shaft and meshing with a toothed rack 33 attached to the end face of the picker head 20 adjacent its carriage. If the labels or stamps have not previously been gummed, liquid adhesive is used in tank 31 instead of Water.

The moistening roll 13 is supported for verticalmovement by two pivoted arms 34 and normally lies in contact with the main moistening roll 30 with which it is rotated in synchronism by means of the gears 35 on the shafts of the two rolls. Roll 30 is driven through a detachable coupling 66 by sprocket 67 and chain 61 at the same rotative speed as operating cam 8. During the interval that the suction head is passing over the water tank the roll 13 is raised into position to contact with the label by means of a cam 36 attached to the shaft of the roll 30, the cam 36 engaging a roller 37 mounted on one of the arms 34. Gears 35 are disengaged permitting the moistening roll 13 to be actuated by rack 33 as above described. By this arrangement not only is the moistening roller moved out of the path of the picker head on its return stroke, but a period of contact between the moistening roller and the main water roller is maintained during several revolutions of the roll 13, thereby insuring that an ample quantity of water will be taken up by the roll.

In order to insure sufficient pressure between the stamp and the moistening roller during the moistening operation, each arm of the picker head is preferably provided with a pivoted wing 38 normally maintained in horizontal position in the plane of the label by means of a. spring 39 engaging the heel of the wing and a pin on the picker arm, respectively. The springs 39 hold the wings with snflicient firmness to provide a back ing for the label, but yield readily when the package is elevated between the picker arms during the label applying operation.

The stamps are supported beneath the el-applying position the pickeroutward position of the picker arm in the 3 stamp magazine 12 which is mounted for vertical movement on parallel links 40 and elevated to bringthe topmost label into contact with the face of the picker by means of a cam projection 41 on the periphery of the main cam 8. The stamps are held at the top of the magazine by means of a plunger 42- caught by the pin and drawn away from the p picker when'the cam 41 permits the magazine to drop.

lVhen the foremost package in the feed trough is advanced across the top of the elevating plunger its upper face formed by the folds of the foiled package passes under a pivoted fold holder 45 (Figs. 7 8 and 11) whose purpose is to press down the top fold of the foil and hold it down so that the label carrier will pass over the top of the package without engaging the fold and opening or tearing the package. The fold holder 45 is normally held in position over the path of the packages by a spring 46 and is moved out of the way of the package before it is elevated by the plunger by the engagement of the picker head with a lug 47 projecting upwardly from the fold holder into a position to be engaged by the advancing edge of the picker head, the two positions of the fold holder being shown in solid and dotted lines, respectively, in Fig. 8.

Through the provision of the fold holder just described it is made unnecessary for the operator of the machine to pay attention to the manner in which he or she places the packages of cigarettes in the feed trough 5 (see Fig. 1). The packages may be placed in the feed trough with a given face facing either side of the machine since it. is immaterial which fold is uppermost. If the up permost fold is pointing to the left as viewed in Fig. 11, in which position it is liable to be torn by the label carrieigit will be held down by the fold holder. If, on the other hand, the uppermost fold happens to point in the opposite direction it is not apt to be injured by the advance of the label carrier.

After the picker head comes to rest over the package as shown in Fig. 12, the plunger 7 is elevated, forcing the package against the label, which is held taut between the suction arms, and thence upward into the brush chute against the lower end of the previously stamped package. Continued movement of the plunger elevates the entire column of packages, shown as three in number in the drawings, and raises the upper most package out of the brush trough into plete drying.

the plane of a horizontal delivery trough 47' inposition to be fed into the trough by, a

so that the stamps will be held un'er pres-' sure for a sufiicient time to insure'thcir com- The plunger 48 is supported for horizontal movement on parallel links shown more particularly in Fig. 7 and is reciprocated in timed relation with the other parts of the machine by-means of a cam groove 50'cut in the face of the main cam 8. The upper and lower bars of the .trough 47 are provided I with hooks 88 as shown, to hold the package in the trough after bein forced therein by the plunger, and there y prevent the package, through the expansion of the packages in the trou h or for any other reason, following the pfungcr'on its return movement.

The machine is preferably operated by its individual motor mounted on the edestal l and driving cam shaft 26thr'o'ug1 a worm gear 52'and a pair of spur gears on the worm wheel shaft and the cam shaft 26, respectively. The pinion 53 is loose on the shaft and is connected thereto when it is desired to operate the machine by means of a 'aw clutch 54 as shown more particularly in ig. 5. The main cam '8 is fixed to the cam shaft and on one side contains the cam groove 11 which serves to operate both the elevating plunger 7 and the stamp picker carriage 13 as shown in Fig. 7. On its opposite face the cam 8 is provided with a cam groove 50 for operating the ejecting plunger 48, and also with a cam groove 55 which operates the movable part 6 of the feed trough, as shown in Fig. 6. Also, the periphery of the main cam 8 is provided with a cam projection 41 which operates the label magazine to bring the labels successively into engagement with the picker head. By thus providing all the cams on a single cam member thereis no possibility of the parts getting out of synchronism or interfering with each other in their respective operations.

The feed chain is intermittently operated from the cam shaft by means of a Geneva gear, shown in Fig. 4, whose driving part 56 is attached to the cam shaft 26, while the driven part 57 is attached to the idler shaft 58 supported in the frame beneath the s )rockct 59 of the food chain at right angles thereto. The sprocket is driven from the shaft 58 by means of helical gears 60, the feed chain being advanced the distance of one feed bar for each revolution of the opcrating cam shaft 26, and the feeding movement occupying but one-quarter of arevolutionof the cam shaft, whereby the packa e is fed into position over the elevating plunger during the interval that the plunger is at rest,

The movable side face of the feed trough is preferably providedwith a horizontal plate 27 overlying the fed trough in position to engage the folded end of the cigarette package, should the last fold be upstanding, and press it down against the package. The 'plate 27 is of suflicient length to hold the fold in place until the'package is advanced over the plunger 7 and under the pivoted plate fold holder 45 which holds the folds in place until the label is in posltion over the package.

moistenin roll 30 comprises merelya tongue andslot thereby making it quick y detachable so that the tank 31 can be readily re- The coupling 66 which drives the main moved and replaced by another'tank ifdesired without interferin with the operation ofthe machine. This 1s especially convenientwhen the tank contains glue or other adhesive as it is desirable to periodically remove the tank eitherfor refilling or for cleaning.

The machine 'as above described is intended primarily for applyin revenue stamps to cigarette ackages of tie kind illustrated, the stamp eing applied across-the top and 'asted atboth ends to the outer surface of t 1e cup or outer wrapper of the package. The same machine, however, may be used with slight modification for appgying stamps or labels to packages of other 1nds, such, for example, as decks of cards, whereon the stamp is applied over one corner only of the box or package. 1

In Figs. 13 to 20 inclusive such a ackage is illustrated with a modified form 0 picker.

The only changes in the machine necessa to adapt it for this purpose are in the mo ific ation of the picker and the narrowing of the stamp holder to accommodate the shorter stamps. As shown in Fig. 14, the modified picker head comprises but a single transverse sucker arm 21 provided with an air inlet port positioned to overlie the front end of thestamp in the magazine, that is, the end of the stamp adjacent the moistening roll. Prothereby form a backin for it when passing over the moistening rol er. Finger 63 is also held down by a spring which is ada ted to yield when the package is thrust up t rough the picker head into the brush chute.

Fig. 13 shows the modified picker head holding the stamp in position over the package to which it is to be applied. While the stamp is being carried from the stamp holder to this position it is passed over the adhesive or moistening roller 13 durin which time it is backed up by the wing and finger. It will be noted that the course of the stamp to reach this position lies over the to of the package, while the end which is hel b the suction is at one side of the package an constitutes the end of the stamp which is folded down against the side face of the package.

Fig. 15- shows the package moving upwardly through the picker head into the brush chute. The purpose of finger 63 will be seen from this figure. The finger, which may be described as blunt pointed, presses the end of the label against the package so that the grip of the suction will not draw the stamp away from the package on its upward movement. On the contrary, the grip of the finger aided by the adhesive on the bottom of the stamp, is greater than the suction so that the end of the stamp is drawn across the suction face, thereby maintaining it under tension as it is. folded over the corner of the package. The shape of the finger 63 is such that the end of the finger moves across the surface of the label maintaining it in smooth condition, and finally passing oil of the end of the label as shown in section 15. Ultimately the finger passes the corner of the package as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 15, and the shape of the finger, and the position of its pivot are so arranged that the finger will not hook over the end of the package and interfere with its free upward movement under the action of the plunger 7.

If desired, the construction shown in Figs. 13 to 15 for the application of the corner label may be employed with the stamp which is glued at both ends to the sides of the package, as shown in Fig. 16. In using this type of stamp the finger 63 will engage the stamp as it moves across the upper surface thereof and the stamp will thereby be drawn taut across substantially the entire top of the package. Moreover, the finger, as shown in the dotted'position in Fig. 16, will assist the brush in pressing the label against the side of the packa e.

A further modi cation of the picker head is shown in Fig. 17. As here shown, both the finger 63 and the double wings 38 are dispensed with, and a single backlng plate 65 is pivoted to the single arm 21 provided in this instance on the picker head. The stamp or label is held in position against the lower surface of the backing plate 65 and the tion pump is varied slightly when this modification is used so that instead of the suction being continued while the package is passing upward through the picker head, the suction is made to cease as the plun er begins to rise and air is forced outwar 1y through the suction opening and blows the stamp oil of plate 65. The adhesive holds the stamp on the top of the package and the brushes smooth down the ends of the stamp.

It will be understood that whenever the stamp carrying picker head is provided with double suction faces, one at each end of the stamp, it is desirable to arrange the suction pump so as to maintain the suction while the stamp is being drawn across the suction faces by the upward movement of the package, but that with the types of picker head having only one suction face, the suction is arranged to stop by the time the stamp begins to move across the suction face.

The further modification of the picker head is shown in Figs. 18 to 20 inclusive. In this modification a single backing plate 65 is pivoted on the picker head at 71 near the base of the transverse arms 21*. The backing plate is normally held in the dotted position shown in Fig. 20 by means of a spring (not, shown), and is forced down into the horizontal position when the picker head passes over the moistening roll 13. In this position the bottom surface of the backing plate is held rigidly in the plane of the suction faces and thus provides the label with a smooth backing throughout its entire area.

The backing plate 65 is forced down into the horizontal position by means of a heel portion 72 formed at an angle to the body of the backing plate as shown in Fig. 20 and which is engaged by a cam surface 73 provided on one of the arms .34 which supports the moistenin or glue roll 13. When arm 34 is raised by cam 36 to bring ratchet wheel 32 into engagement wit-h rack 33 on the picker head, this causes the cam suface 73 to engage heel 72 and force the backing plate to the horizontal position. When heel 72 passes off of surface 73, however, the backing plate flies to the vertical position so that when the package is forced up through the picker head the backing plate 65 is out of its path. Consequently the label is carried upward by the package, being held taut by the suction, and the ends of the label are smoothed down against the sides of the package by means of the brushes. This construction rovides a fixed, instead of a spring hel d backing plate for the label during moistening, and withdraws the backing plate. altogether while the stamp is being afiixed.

Both the fingers 38 and the backin plate 65 may be dispensed with entirely if esired, particularly where the stamp needonly be firmly attached at its ends to the package. The suction faces of the double armed picker head furnish backing for the ends ofthc stamp and ordinarily the inherent stiffness of the stamp held taut between the two suction heads insures suflicient pressure between the stamp and the moistening roller.

We claim: I 1. In a package labeling machine, the combination of a package mover, feeding mechanism for advancing the packages successively into labeling, position opposite the package mover, a la elma azine, a label carrier for removing the la is from said magazine and carrying them one at a time to the package at the labeling position, said carrier having a pair of arms spaced from one another by approximately the len h of the label and gripping means on sai arms for yieldingly gripping the label near the for actuating the package mover to ends thereof, means for moving. said carrier to bring the label thereon opposite a face of the ackage at the labeling position, means or gumming the label, mean}? as the package between said arms and orce the label from said yielding grippingmeans,

e la

arms

, magazine and carrying them one at a time to the package at the labeling position, said carrier having a pair of arms spaced apart by ap roximately thelen hof the label, the

icing provided wit suction'faces for gripping .the label near the ends thereof, suction means connected with said suction faces, means for moving said carrier to bring the label-thereon opposite a face of the package at thelabeling position, means for gumming the label, means for actuating the package mover to push the package between said arms and forcev the label therefrom while the suction holds the label taut and spaced arms.

3. In a package labeling machine, means for holding a gummed label opposite the end of a package to be sealed, a package mover for moving the package against the gummed label, guides for engaging .the sides of the package to center the same with respect to the label as the package moves thereagainst, stationary means for receiving the package with the label applied thereto, and feedlng mechanism for feeding the packages successively into position between said uides, said mechanism comprising a troug somewhat larger than the packages -so that the packages slide freely therethrou h, means for intermittently advancing tie packages in said trough, and a reciprocatory plate cooperating with said trough to compress the packages to uniform size prior to feeding them between said guides.

4. In a package labelin machine, the combination of a trough for guiding the packages to labeling positioinmeans for advancing the packages successively in said trough to said position, a label magazine, a label carrier for removing the labels from said magazine and carrying them one at a time substantially in the plane of a face of the package into labeling position adjacent said face, means for smoothing the previous- 1 folded flaps into folded position prior to the movement of said label carrier to labeling position adjacent said face of the package, means for gumming the label, means for pushing the package a ainst the gummed label, and means for olding the label against the package.

5. In a package labeling machine having .a label carrier for carrying the labels one at a time into labeling position in close proximity to'the closed flaps of a package at labeling position, the combination of a trough for guiding the packages successively to labeling position, means for advancing 'the packages along said trough with their. flaps partially open, and a flap closer associated with said trough for forcing the partially open flaps against the face of the package to revent the same from being unfolded by the abel carrier.

6. In a package labeling machine having a label carrier for carrying the labels one at a time into labeling position in close proximity to the partially open flaps of a package at labeling position, the combinatlon of a trough for guiding the packages successively to labeling-position, means for advancing the packages along said trough, and a flap closer comprising a fiat blade extending longitudinally of said trough having a front face placed at an angle to the direction of travel of the packages, and means for im parting a reciprocatory lateral motion to said flap closer to facilitate the forcing of the partially open flaps against the face of the package.

7. In a package labeling machine having a label carrier for carrying the labels one at a time into labeling position in relatively close proximity to the closed flaps of a package at labeling position, the combination of means for feeding the packages successively to labeling position with their flaps partially open, means for closing said flaps against the face of the package, and a fla holder yieldingly mounted in the plane 0' the label carrier at labeling position for normally engaging one of said flaps to hold the same closed while the label carrier moves into position opposite said flaps, said flap holder being pushed back by the label carrier to permit said carrier to appropriately position the label with respect to said flaps.

8. In a package labeling machine having a label carrier for carrying the labels one at a time into labeling position in relatively close proximity to the closed flaps of a package at labeling position, means for feeding the packages successively to labeling position with their flaps partially open, a flap holder for holding the flaps closed while the label carrier moves the label thereover, and means for causing the flap holder to rccede as the label carrier advances so as to permit the carrier to appropriately position the label with respect to said flaps.

9. In a package labeling machine having a label carrier for carrying the labels one at a time into labeling position in relatively close proximity to the closed flaps of a package at labeling position, the combination of means for feeding the packages successively to labeling position with their flaps partially open, means for closing said flaps against the face of the package, and a flap holder comprising a blade pivoted to move in the plane of the label carrier, said blade being yieldingly held in osition' to engage the flap on the opposite side of the package from that of the label carrier, and means associated with said pivoted blade for engage ment with the label carrier as the same advances to push the blade back and permit the carrier to advance the label into appropriate position with respect to said flaps.

10. In a package labeling machine the combination of feeding mechanism for advancing the packages successively into labeling position, a label magazine, a label carrier for removing the labels from said magazine and carrying them one at a time into position adjacent a face of the package at labeling position, gumming mechanism for wetting the surface of the label in the label carrier as it travels from the label magazine to labelmg position, and means for securing the gummed label upon the package, said gumming mechanism comprising a positively driven roller rotating in the gumming bath, a bodily movable gumming roller for receiving liquid from the surface of said main roller, means on said label carrier for rotating the gumming roller at the same surface speed as that of the label on the carrier, and means for bodily moving the gumming roller to bring said driving means into action when the label carrier passes said roller.

11. In a package labeling machine having a label carrier arranged to travel between a label magazine and a* package disposed at labeling position, said carrier receiving the labels one at a time from said magazine and holding them taut as they are carried to the package, the combination of gumming mechanism comprising a main positively driven I roll rotating in a gumming bath, a gumming roll normally rotating in contact with said main roll, means for bodily moving said gumming roll into the path of the taut label as it is moved to the labeling position by the label carrier, and cooperating driving devices associated respectively with the label carrier and said gumming roll, said devices bein brought into cooperative relation by the bodily movement of the gummin roll to cause the surface of said roll to be riven at the same speed as the surface of the label in the label carrier.

12. In a package labeling machine having a label carrier arranged to travel between a label magazine and a package disposed at labeling position, said label magazine comprising an elongated vertical chamber adapted to hold a plurality of stacked labels, a follower in the holder on which the labels rest, means for yieldingly urging the follower against the bottom of the stack of labels, a plurality of barbs at the delivery edge of the magazine to hold said stack of labels within the magazine under the upward pressure of said follower, means for moving the label carrier into position just above the delivery face of the magazine, means for applying suction to the suction face of said carrier to cause the uppermost label to be drawn against said faces, and means for thereafter moving the label magazine downward to withdraw the stack of labels from the label carrier, the uppermost label passing said barbs and being left in position against said suction faces.

13. In a package sealing machine, a label holder from which labels are adapted to be fed one at a time comprising an elongated vertical chamber open at its upper end and having a hinged door at one side for receiving a quantity of stacked labels superposed one upon the other, interior barbs disposed at the a )per end of the holder for retaining the labc s'therein, a follower in the holder on which the stamps rest, and means for yieldingl moving said follower upwardly in the holder.

.14. In a package labeling machine, the combination of means for advancing the packages successively into la'l'ieling position, a. label magazine, a label carrier for removing the labels from said magazine and car rying them one at a time to the labeling posi tion, and gumming mechanism for wetting a surface of the label in said carrier, said gumming mechanism including a gumming roll, means for moving said roll into contact with the surface of the label as the carrier travels to the labeling position and retracting the same on the return stroke of the carrier, a plate pivoted upon said carrier,

' and means for rotating said plate about its combination of a label carrier, means forivot while said gumming roll is in contact with the label to bring said plate against the back of the label to support the same while the opposite surface is being wcttcd, said plate being actuated to a retracted position after the gumming of the label.

15.In a package labeling machine the moving the same in a predetermined'path to carry a label to labeling position in proximity to a package, means on said carrier for gripping a'label, a plate pivoted on said carrier for engaging the outersurface of said label, a gumming roll opcratively mounted adjacent the path of the travel of the label carrier, means for bodily moving said roll to bring it into the path of the label, and means for engaging said pivoted plate to actuate the same about its pivot to bring it into contact with the back of the label while the gumming roll is in contact therewith to form a backing plate for holding the label against the gumming roll.

16. In a package labeling machine, the combination of feeding mechanism for advancing the packages successively into labeling vposition, means for bringing gummed labels one at a time to said labeling position and holding the same in proximity to a face of the package, means for moving the package from said, labeling position against the label, means for receiving the package with the label thus applied thereto and pressing the label against the packa e, the labeled packages advancin successive into said receiving means, a de ivery trong 1 adjacent the delivery end of said receiving means, and means actuated in timed relation to the advance of said packa es into said receiving means for pushing tie outermost package into said delivery trough,

17. In a package labeling machine, the

combination of feeding mechanism for ad-- vancing the packages successively into labeling position, means for bringing gummed labels one at a-time to said labeling position and holding the same in proximity to a face of the package, means for moving the package from said labeling position a ainst the label, means for receiving the pee age-with the label thus applied thereto and pressing the label against the package, the labeled packages advancing successively into said receivin means, a delivery trough adjacent the de ivery end of the said receiving means, means actuated in timed relation to the advance of said packages into said receiving means for pushing the outermost package into said delivery trou h, .said delivery trough comprising a plura ity of spaced flexible bars for engaging the respective sides of the packages, means for maintaining said bars in spaced relationship, and a flexible hook disposed at the entrance end of said trough said hook being ada ted to be displaced by engagement wit under the action of said plunger in forcing the package into the tro gh.

18. In a package labeling machine, means for feeding packages and labels successively into rox1m1t to one another, means for applying the abels to the packages, means for pressing the labels against the surface of the packages to cause'them to adhere thereto, and a delivery trough removably secured to the machine to receive a plurahty of packages from said label pressing means, said trough comprising s aced flexible bars extendmg longitudlnal y thereof for yieldingly frictionally engaging the sides of the packages to'hold the same within the trough.

In testimony whereof we afilx our signatures.

JOHN DAVID SMITH.

CHARLES RAYMOND PHILLIPS.

the package 

